Producer's GK Films inks Worldwide, multi-film pact

“The Departed” producer is finishing up his first-look deal with Warner Bros. Under the Sony deal, King’s GK Films will independently develop, finance and produce a minimum of two films a year that will be marketed and distributed worldwide by the Culver City studio.

King will continue to develop previously agreed upon films with the Burbank-based studio.

“We have long admired Graham’s consistent taste in commercial and critically acclaimed material,” said Peter Schlessel, president of worldwide affairs for the studio. “As a producer, he attracts high-profile talent to top-quality and audience-pleasing projects and we couldn’t be more excited to enter into this relationship.”

King praised his new studio base, saying the deal “gives us guaranteed distribution for our films and the opportunity to work with a successful and respected studio that handles every type of motion picture equally well.”

King launched his independent production company GK Films in May 2007 with business partner Tim Headington. Under their new production banner, the company produced the Mel Gibson starrer “Edge of Darkness,” which Warner Bros. will release on Jan.29. The company also recently wrapped the Johnny Depp starrer “The Rum Diary.”